Electric-meter-service protective apparatus.



R. G. COLE.

ELECTRIC METER SERVICE PROTECTIVE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909. 950,3 1 6 Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

WW A I R. 0. COLE. ELECTRIC METER SERVICE PROTECTIVE APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909.

950 3 1 6 Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 6. 3 5a. 4

\/ rzvzaozs: [/1 VII) r o R Z fiwmm widgwj trio light, power or heatenergy, enter a- V a citizen of the United States, residing at new anduseful Improvement in .led from the mains, has a base that is inter-'fastened closed by the coverof that block and I cannot be opened whenthe block cover is connected with the branch wiresthat are joined withthemain wires inthe junction box and are Connected with the wires that J'i UniTEn s A nsifA Ent-r orrion. j 1

ROBERT cnas. COLE, or WEST'HABTFORD, ooivNEcTmUT, nssienonTo THE JOHNS-RATT COMPANY, or HARTFORD, conimoTiouT, A conronA ronor CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC METER-SERVICE PROTECTIVE APPARATUS.- I g Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented Feb, 22, 1910, Application filed June 1,1909,'sriai No. 499,599.

lead to the meter. Fitting the front of the service block is a coverthat is sealed in place when the apparatus is installed. The meter,which may be any desired type, is fastened in a frame that isinterlocked with the back of the upper part of the serviceblock and isMeter-Service Protective Apparatus, of surrounded by a shell that fitsthe frame and which the following is a specification. also engages theservice block.

' This invention relatesto such apparatus as is arranged whereconductors carr'ying elec- To a-ZZ who'mit may concern: Beit known thatI, ROBERT CHARLES COLE,

\Vest Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a Electric;

is fastened in place by the' cover of the meter case when that cover issealed. These parts are so. designed that they may be set up singly thatis, for one meter, or any number arranged in parallel, for a pluralnumber of meters and when installed they are inter 7 locked so that no,part can be removed or openedwithout first breaking a seal, consequentlyno wire can be tapped without showing the fact that the apparatus hasbeen tampered with.

customers premises from the subway or conduit, between the main servicewires from the generating plant, and the branch wires that leadto theconsumers lamps, motors, heaters or other appliances. I

The object of thinvention is to provide a comparatively cheap ap aratuswhich :is simple to install, either sing y' or in multiple units,according to the conditions, and which is so designed that all of theparts which contain the necessary mechanisms, appliances and wires thatcarry current, are connected, interlocked and sealed in such manner thatall of the conductors are so concealed and protected that it isabsolutely impossible to surreptitiously obtain access to a conductingpart on theservice side of the system, that is, outside'of the branchwires leading from 'a meter, without breaking a seal, thus effectivelypreventing'theft of current.

In carrying out this invention, a sealed main service box, having therequired two or three pole fused cut-out, and provided with a closedconduit fitting at thelbottom and closed entran'ce hood at the top, isconnected by tubing with: one-or more splicing or junction boxes. Eachjunction box, of which there may be any desired number, depending uponthenumber of branches to he shows a plan of an apparatus which embodiesthis invention, arranged for three meters. In this view but one meter isshown, and the cover of one service block,

the construction. Fig. 2show-s a transverse cover, and'the meter holdingframe and surrounding shell, illustrating vthe' manner in which theseparts are connected and secured when the meter coven is sealed. Fig. 3shows a plan of the meter supporting frame and junction box, which areinterlocked with each other when installed. Fig. 4: shows a shown thefuses are connected with terminals locked with the back of thelowerpartof a service block and has a hinged cover which is engaged withthe front of the lower part of the service block in such manner that itis thelterrninals by the openingof the cover 4, in the manner common tothis type of fused cut-out-service box The service box cover sealed.Ea'ch service block is provided with two or more fuses, dependingon,.the'syst'em ing on the screw 6,-which nutis held from withwhich theapparatus is used, which are removal by thewire 7 which passes throughinthe lug 8 on the cover, and has its ends Figure 1 of the accompanyingdrawings surrounding.shell, the, service block and the 50 '3 and arearranged to be'disconnected from secured'by .a seal'9 when the apparatusis in This shell the cover of one junction box, and the cover J ofthe-service box are broken away, ,a'nd other parts are omitted in orderto better illustrate;

,section on-la-rger scale of the meter base and longitudinal. section ofthe interlocked meter and surrounding. 'shell, a

is fastened closed by the thumb nut 5 turn-;'

106 -a'-perfo ration in the nut and a perforation 30 7 Qof the \junctionbox era'bly a tube 13 is inserted.

18. Each of projecting rib 19 that edge of the front member 2 i L u use.

otherwise permanently secured to a switch- (panel in any convenientplace, prefboard or acent to the locality where the main service wiresenter the premises from a conduit or subway. Fastened to the lower endof the service box is a conduit fitting 10 havin an opening, to whichthe end of the conduit 11 is to be connected Faste'ned to the upper endof the mainservice box is an entrance hood 12, into which the end of aApplied to tlie'end of the tubing is a j unction box 14. Iftheiappara'tus 'is' to be arranged for a number/pf meters, additipnaljunction boxesv15 and "16 niay be provlded and connected by sectionsoftubing 17 and the junction boxes shown is formed of two members thatare hin'ged together at their lower edges. The upper edge. of the baseor back member of each of the junction boxes shown, is provided with a agroove 20 formed in the back of the lower edge of the service block 21',while the upper of each of the junction boxes shown, is provided with aprojecting tongue 22 that is designed to fit -into a mortise 23 in thelower edge of the front of the service block. The members have semiannular flanges; which, when the members are closed togetherfform hubs24 which receive and clasp-the ends of the tubing that extend be-.

' sides,

I has .a

tween the entrance service box and the several junction boxes. Theintermediate junction boxes lband 15 have hubs on both but-the last orend junction box 16 hub on the'entrance side only, the other side beingsolid. The main service wires from-the conduit or subway are led throughthe conduit fitting into the main service cut-out box and are connectedwith therein. The main conductors then extend from the other ends of thefuses through the entrance hood, tubing and sev .eral unction boxes. Thejunction boxes are\ of ample size to permit the ready splicopenings intothe service tion, and the end of mam wires. v

The service blocks are desirably formed of porcelain or other insulatingmaterial. In these bfocks are the branch line fuses 25. The branch'wires. are joined withthe main wires in the junction boxes and ledthrough blocks, and there connected with the fuse terminals. The serviceblock 'has 4 a cover .26, desirably formed of glass, that fits into therabbeted front of the service block andis held in place by a thumb nut27 that is screwed upon the One rovided with a perforathe screw is alsoperforated. A wire 29 is passed through these pering or joining ofthebra'n'ch wires with the wingofflthis nut is This box is designed tobe bolted or J is designed to fit into I projects beneath the forationswhen the apparatus is installed, and the ends of the wire fastened byseal 30.

The cover of the service block which is enough for the service blockcover to be lifted sufiiciently 'to permit the front member of thejunction box to be released therefrom. Asthe. back member of. thejunction box is interlocked with the service block, by means of the riband groove, the junction box is thus secured to the service block sothat it cannot be removed or opened until the service block cover sealis destroyed. As

the various connecting sections of tubing are located with their ends inthe hubs of the junction boxes before the junction boxes are closed andsecured, they cannot be removed until the junction boxes are opened.

The meter supporting frame 31 atits lower end has a forwardly projectingrib 32 that is designed to enter a groove 33 in the back nearthe upperedge of the service block. This frame also has inwardly extendingperforated ears 31, the perforations in which.

coincide with the legs of the meter base. Tn installing theapparatus,,the rib at the top of the rear member of the junction box isengaged with its groove in the back of the service block, and the rib atthe lower end of the metersupporting frame isengaged with its groove inthe back of' the service block, and then, the service block is fastenedin position Fig. l. I \Vhen this is accomplished these parts cannot beseparated without removing the service block. The meter is theninstalled by passing bolts through the perforations in its legs and theperforations in the ears which project inwardly from" the metersupporting frame. After the meter base and the supporting frame havebeen secured in position,

the shell 35 is arranged over themeter base. This shell fits thesupporting frame andfsurrounds the meter base so as to conceal all ofthe wires which lead from the fuses in the service block to the meterconnections. The lower end of the shell is also shaped to closely fitthe upper part of the service box. After this shell has been placed inposition, the meter case or cover 36 is placed over the meter and issecured in position by the nuts 37 whichturn upon the threaded ends ofthe screws 38 in the usual manner. The opening in the front of theinclosing shell is made of .such size and shape that it just fits themeter base and the flange 39- about this-opening back edge of the metercase or cover so that when that case is fastened in position, asdescribed, the shell is held down against the meter supporting I frameand pannotbe removed until the perforations through the' V or applywires for stealing current, Without service block.

' meter, a fran'ie'adapted to I'QCEiWB the meter and adapted tobe sealedto the meter base,

. tectiveapparat-us, of a, service block adapted toreceive fusibleconductors, a cover adaptwhen the'main service box, the service blockand the meter supporting frame are secured in position, which isaccomplished by concealed fastening means, the parts cannot beseparated, and when the meter case or cover is applied and sealed andthe service block cover is sealed, none of the parts can beopened. Allof the wires and other conductingparts are hidden in this apparatus sothat it is impossible for anyone to connect breaking one of the seals.The construction is such that the parts may be readily assembled withoutany special fitting for a single meter or for any number of meters, as.desired.

The invention claimed is:

1. The combinationh'i a meter service protective apparatus, ofja'serviceblock adapted to receive fusible conductors," a cover adapted to besealed upon said service block, a frame adapted .to receive a meterbase, said frame being detachably engaged with said service block a,shell adapted to inclose a meter base, said shell fitting said frameand engaging the service block, and a junction box composed of memberswhich are joined to-' gether at their lower edges and have their upperedges detachably engaged with the 2. The combination in a meter serviceprotective apparatus, of aser-vice block adapted to receive fusibleconductors, a cover adaptcd to be sealed upon said service block, a

base, said frame being detachably engaged with said service block, ashell. adapted to inclose the meter base, said shell fitting said frameand engaging the service block, a cover for said meter, fitting oversaid shell and a junction box composed of members which are joinedtogether at their lower edges and have their upper ed es det-achablyengaged with the service bloci.

3. The combination in a meter serviceproed to besealed upon'said serviceblock, a

frame adapted to receive a meter base, said I frame being detachablyengaged with said service bloc and a shell adapted to inclose the meterbase, said shell fitting said frame and engaging the service block.

at. The combination in a meter service protective apparatus,of a serviceblock adapted to receive fusible conductors, a cover adapt.-

ed to be sealed upon said service block, and ibjllllOillOll box composedof members which are joined together at their lower edges and K havetheir upper edges detachably engaged with the service block.

5. The combination in a meter service protectiveapparatus, of a servicebloclt adapted to receive fusible conductors, a cover adapted to besealed upon said service block," a meter, a frame adapted to receive themeter base, said frame being detachably engaged with said serviceblock,a shell adapted to inclose the meterbase, said shell fitting'said frameand engaging'the service block, a cover for said meter, fitting oversaid shell and adaptj ed to be sealed to the meter base, a junction boxcomposed of members which are joined together at their lower edges andhave their upper edges detachably' engaged with the service block, amain service box adapted to receive fusible conductors, a closed conduitfitting attached to the bottom of said. service box, a closed entrancehood attached to the frameand engaging the service. block, and ajunction box composed of members which are hinged together at theirlower edges, the

rear member of said box having aprojection extending into a recess inthe SEEI'VICB block,

and the front member having a projection extending into a mo rtise inthe, service block beneath the cover thereof.

' 7. The combination in a meter service protective apparatus, of ameter, a frame adapted to receive the meter base, a shell adapted toinclose the meter base, a cover for said meter fitting over andretainingsaid shell,

and means for sealing the cover to the meter base over said shell. x IROBERT CHAS. COLE,

iVitnessesz s JENNY LEE,

HARRY R; WILLIAMS.

